Downtown Pottstown holiday event schedule announced

POTTSTOWN — If you can’t make the “Cash Mob” event on Saturday, there are plenty of other events going on downtown during the holiday season.

It officially kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 1 when Santa and his elves arrive at 5 p.m. at High and Evans streets.

Rather than the same old boring sleigh, Jolly Old St. Nick will proceed down High Street toward Smith Plaza on, shall we say, a healthy but unconventional mode of transportation — unconventional at least for elves.

The lighting of the Christmas Tree in Smith Plaza will occur after Santa arrives there.

And then, the Santa’s Village will open with kids crafts, reindeer food making and a coloring contest at Tango Marketing, 139 E. High St.

Across the street at Smith Plaza, visitors can enjoy holiday music, free trolley rides from 4:40 to 8 p.m. and horse-drawn wagon rides from 5 to 7 p.m., for just $10.

In the 300 block of High Street, the Empire Fire Company will be providing roasted chestnuts and other treats.

Discounted babysitting will be offered at The Sitter’s Clubhouse, 333 E. High St. (To contact them, e-mail at thesittersclubhouse@gmail.com or call 610-326-7600.)

The Sitter’s Clubhouse will also have holiday story times every hour from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15.

Most of these events will be repeated on Fridays, Dec. 7, 14 and 21 and additional Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15.

Here is a listing of some additional, special, one-time events:

• Friday, Dec. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. — ArtFusion 19464, formerly Galley on High and located at 254 E. High St., will hold an open house and canned good will be collected for the Veterans of the Vietnam War Chapter 565. (R.S.V.P. at 610-326-2506.)

• Friday, Dec. 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — The Mercury’s Community Media Lab, located at 24 N. Hanover St., will host a holiday story time reading.

•Saturday,Dec. 8, from 9 to 11 a.m. — Have Breakfast with Santa at Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches, 137 E. High St. from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. It’s $5 per person, but reservations, which can be made at 484-948-6061, are required.

• Sunday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 6 p.m. — Pottstown’s famous Holiday Historic House Tour, including many downtown locations. That is also the night that the Candlelight Tour of Pottsgrove Manor will be held from 2 to 8 p.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 15, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Feeling a little worn out from all that local shopping? Get a free trolley ride to Pottstown’s newest hot spot, the Sly Fox Brewery’s Tasting Room. (No one under 21 admitted.)

• Saturday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 16 from 12 to 3 p.m. — VanGogh’s Secret Studio will be held for the third year at ArtFusion 19464, 254 E. High St. this fundraiser is a special shopping opportunity for kids 12 and younger. A special selection of handcrafted gifts priced from $1 to $5 is offered and volunteers will be on hand to help children shop and all gifts will be wrapped.

• Saturday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. — Santa leaves Pottstown at 6 p.m. to join his reindeer and elves at the North Pole in preparation for his whirlwind world tour on the 24th.

• Saturday, Dec. 22, by 1 p.m. — Raffle tickets must be turned in at the Visitor’s Center, 17 N. Hanover St. by 1 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the drawing will take place and the lucky winners will be announced.

Visit the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District web site at www.downtownpottstown.org for more information on downtown events for the holiday season.